At Michelle Designs, Michelle and Daniel had managed to get some free time for themselves after a tiresome meeting. They sat in front of each other in Daniel's cabin.
"Can I ask you something Dad?"
"Sure."
"Back then, why did you agree to Dwane's proposal?"
Michelle knew that back then the Ford's weren't at their prime and we're facing challenging times. Nonetheless, Daniel wasn't so helpless to agree to whatever Dwane asked.
Daniel cleared his throat, "I thought Dwane was a good man, and he had himself approached me for the proposal. Besides, I was not in a right state of mind all those years, with your consecutive accidents within a year and your deteriorating health" Daniel sighed
"It was indeed a testing time."
"I'm sorry dad." Michelle apologised, she was responsible for the hard time the Fords faced.
"It wasn't your fault dear. It was only fate playing cruel games with all of us."
"At that time when Dwane asked for your hand in marriage, it seemed like there wouldn't be any other man more suitable than him for you." Michelle's face turned bitter.
However Daniel continued,
"And he was the one who...." Daniel was lost in his memory, he remembered the first time he saw Dwane.
"One who?" Michelle asked.
"Um, nothing. Maybe it was his mother's death that changed him. As far as I know it wasn't pleasant. It was after that Dwane took over his grandfather's business and flourished immensely."
Michelle smirked at his words, seeing her reaction Daniel said,
"Don't burden yourself with the feud with Dwane. Leave it to me." Michelle nodded.
Even she didn't wish to have someone or be at someone's throat.
After a tiresome day, both Michelle and Alec were back at Alwils Villa. Lying on their bed, they hugged each other like it was the moment they were waiting for all day. Michelle buried her head on Alec's chest,
"This feels like home."
"What about my home?" Alec asked seductively.
"What?" She placed her chin on his chest and looked at him in confusion.
Alec quickly moved her slightly aside and got on top of her. Before El could comprehend anything, he took off her shorts, spread her legs and thrusted deep into her making her gasp,
"My home" he whispered in her ears.
Michelle was still startled by his sudden deep thrust, and had her eyes wide as saucers.
Alec kissed her, helping her relax before he continued thrusting.
For the rest of the week, both Michelle and Alec were occupied with their respective jobs. It was only the mornings and the time before they slept they would get to cherish each other's company.
They had developed a tacit agreement between them to spend those hours together and No matter how daunting their work got, they made time for each other.
Meanwhile,
Ricky took Isobelle to a hillside restaurant.
They sat under the open sky, the weather was pleasant as well, white beautiful clouds covered the sky and the setting sun behind the hills made everything look surreal.
"Do you like South-hills?" Ricky asked.
"Mmhmm.." Isobelle agreed.
"It's a beautiful city with great weather."
Everytime Ricky saw her face clearly, he couldn't help but get lost in her dark green eyes.
"What are you looking at?" Isobelle mildly chuckled.
"Your eyes," Ricky said without looking away.
"They look like a dense forest, no wonder I'm lost in them."
Isobelle looked down and blushed. She looked back into his deep brown eyes,
She was charmed by his gravitating words.
"Your brown eyes.." she said as she continued to think about an appropriate analogy.
"Your eyes…" she looked deeper into them as she furrowed her brows.
"They look like Michelle's."
Ricky chuckled at her reply.
"Do you like the food?"
"Uhhm…" she agreed, "but the coffee isn't as good as the one I had at your bar."
"Not fair," Isobelle pouted.
"What?"
"You lure me in with great coffee and all I get is this bland stuff." She said, making a sad yet teasing face.
"You can stop by at the bar any morning."
Seeing that both of them had completed eating, Ricky asked "Now that we are here, would you like to see the sunset?"
"Gladly," she replied.
Ricky got up and extended his hand towards her. She held his palm and they walked towards the beautiful sunset.
The following morning, it was a bright sunny Sunday. Michelle and Alec were enjoying their free time with each other. As usual Michelle was seated in the armchair beside the sofa as he had her coffee.
She sensed Robert standing behind her for a long time.
She looked up, stretching her neck as much as she could,
"Robert?" She called him out in an overtly sweet voice and a fake bright smile.
"Yes, Miss Ford."
"Why are you hovering above me?" She continued to keep her curious smiling expression.
"Mr Wilson has asked me to stay by your side at all times."
She shot a questioning gaze at Alec.
"You are an important person now, it's better to have a bodyguard."
"But I'm not used to it." She protested and made a pleading face.
There was no way he could look at her adorable face and deny her.
Which is why he looked away, "Get used to it Michelle." He couldn't let her always have a way only by making a pleading face.
He called her Michelle only when he was angry.
"I don't need Robert to tail me all the time. I've got Mark for it, he doesn't even hover over all the time. He is quiet and discreet but always around. Isn't it Mark?"
She raised her voice at the last part of her sentence.
In no time she received a text.
"It must be Mark's text," she unlocked her phone and started to read the message aloud,
"I am.."
Mark had texted -'I'm not your slave.' Michelle immediately stopped her words and then continued
" 'I'm around.' Yes, that's what Mark texted.
'I'm around' " she repeated sheepishly.